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Shartim Robinson. Courtesy photo.
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Future Soldier Loses More Than Half His Body Weight To Join Army
Story and photos by Ronald A. Reeves, USAREC, Albany Battalion
Oct. 19, 2015
When 18-year-old Shartim Robinson first walked into Albany Recruiting Center in early 2013 he weighed 300 pounds. At that point, Robinson had already lost more than 100 pounds, but knew he needed to shed more to become a Soldier. Determined to become a Soldier, Robinson refined his diet and hired a personal trainer; a year later he walked back into the center weighing 270 pounds.
Now, a svelte 200 pounds, the 20-year-old Future Soldier shipped to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for Basic Combat Training Oct. 13. After graduation, Robinson heads to Fort Lee, Virginia, to earn his Military Occupational Specialty, 92-Foxtrot, in petroleum supply.
“When I first walked in [the center] at the mall, I know they were looking at me like …,” Robinson said, leaving the last part of his statement to one’s imagination. “But I wanted to be a Soldier.”
The Albany High graduate turned to the internet to construct a weight loss plan. He worked out in the local gym and pool and radically changing his diet.
“I quit drinking all sodas and juice and drank only water,” Robinson said. “I wanted to lose weight. From there, I cut out all fried foods, ate more vegetables and salads with honey mustard dressing. It became a habit. And I had to give up ice cream.”
After losing 145 pounds from his original high weight of 407 pounds, he hit a plateau but didn’t give up. He did more research, joined a different gym, and hired a personal trainer.
“I was doing high intensity workouts on the elliptical machines five days a week, running, doing pushups and sit-ups,” Robinson said.
Once he met the standard to enlist, Robinson began embracing Army phrases like: “If it ain’t raining, we ain’t training.”.
Robinson’s recruiter, Sgt. Zormarah Lyda is impressed with his transformation.
“He has done what many young people his age would not have the perseverance to accomplish,” Lyda said.
Story and photos by Ronald A. Reeves, USAREC, Albany Battalion
Oct. 19, 2015
When 18-year-old Shartim Robinson first walked into Albany Recruiting Center in early 2013 he weighed 300 pounds. At that point, Robinson had already lost more than 100 pounds, but knew he needed to shed more to become a Soldier. Determined to become a Soldier, Robinson refined his diet and hired a personal trainer; a year later he walked back into the center weighing 270 pounds.
Now, a svelte 200 pounds, the 20-year-old Future Soldier shipped to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for Basic Combat Training Oct. 13. After graduation, Robinson heads to Fort Lee, Virginia, to earn his Military Occupational Specialty, 92-Foxtrot, in petroleum supply.
“When I first walked in [the center] at the mall, I know they were looking at me like …,” Robinson said, leaving the last part of his statement to one’s imagination. “But I wanted to be a Soldier.”
The Albany High graduate turned to the internet to construct a weight loss plan. He worked out in the local gym and pool and radically changing his diet.
“I quit drinking all sodas and juice and drank only water,” Robinson said. “I wanted to lose weight. From there, I cut out all fried foods, ate more vegetables and salads with honey mustard dressing. It became a habit. And I had to give up ice cream.”
After losing 145 pounds from his original high weight of 407 pounds, he hit a plateau but didn’t give up. He did more research, joined a different gym, and hired a personal trainer.
“I was doing high intensity workouts on the elliptical machines five days a week, running, doing pushups and sit-ups,” Robinson said.
Once he met the standard to enlist, Robinson began embracing Army phrases like: “If it ain’t raining, we ain’t training.”.
Robinson’s recruiter, Sgt. Zormarah Lyda is impressed with his transformation.
“He has done what many young people his age would not have the perseverance to accomplish,” Lyda said.